CSIS Publications

Chattampi Swami: An Intellectual Biography

R. Raman Nair & L. Sulochana Devi

English. First Ed. 2010. Pages: 504. Rs 1950/- US $ 50 (Postage Free). ISBN: 978-81-905928-2-6

Chattampi Swami (1853-1924) was a unique social and religious reformer. His thoughts and work influenced the launching of many social, religious, literary and political organizations and movements in Kerala and for the first time gave voice to those who were marginalized. This book is an attempt to understand how the universe of his thought was shaped, how he elevated himself from the ordinary man to a scholar and reformer extraordinary,

what values emerge as we study the course of his life, what relation these values have to the life of the common people, what his teaching is, and how much of it is timeless and eternal. The book adds new dimensions to our understanding of the extraordinary figure of the late nineteenth century renaissance in India. The authors make a remarkable contribution to our understanding of the man behind the myth. The book can serve as a reader for those who wish to study the history of renaissance in Kerala.

'The authors have shown commendable patience in collecting information and also in gathering a sheaf of photographs that take us back to the times of Swami'. – -Prema Nandakumar (The Hindu)